Andrea Mancuso, educator

Teaching with Contemporary art

Dr. Mancuso has been leading, teaching and advising at Nichols School in Buffalo NY and at KAUST in KSA since 1999. She is an exhibiting visual artist and filmmaker, has a PhD in VIsual Studies, an Art21 Educator and teacher mentor, a National Geographic Educator, and a Duke of Edinburgh Award Leader.

At Nichols school Dr. Mancuso led the 5-12th grade Arts Department, which includes performing and visual art programs ranging from Dance, Vocal and Instrumental Music, Visual Art, and Theatre. As Department Chair Dr. Mancuso supervised eight full-time faculty and two part time faculty, oversaw 13 budgets, two digital labs, 100 instruments, 40 cameras, sheet-music and costume libraries, three art studios, and a darkroom. Dr. Mancuso coordinated the arts calendar with 16 annual performances and three exhibition openings. In addition, Dr. Mancuso has worked with Admissions on arts scholarships, and Advancement on large donations. She sat on the Academic Review Committee, and represented the Art Department at school events and board meetings. Dr. Mancuso taught and advised over 200 students a year, supporting their growth and guiding them through the college application process, building individual portfolios. She developed new courses most recently a course titled “Work of Life – Curation” in support of the school’s art collection and exhibition program. She has worked with Harvard’s Project Zero program and Understanding by Design to guide the Art department through establishing Enduring Understandings and vertically align the 5-12th arts curriculum.

At KAUST Dr. Mancuso expanded her teaching to include building curriculum for an IB international school. She worked primarily to integrate contemporary art and art practices with the Transdisciplinary Themes of the PYP program. She emphasized teaching with contemporary artists and using photography and filmmaking while delving into the world of studio arts and ceramics. Facilitating a growing program of over 800 students and teaching 20+ courses a week to a wide range of learners.

video slideshow of student work and teaching

videos from my classroom that were created to accompany application for my Art21 Educator fellowship and my National Geographic capstone project

Artwork as Kinship

Together We Will See It Through.

Published on September 16, 2022

The Process is the product

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Published on January 7, 2022